Distortion Analysis of Welded Stiffeners

Abstract

This paper presents a welding distortion analysis approach for T-stiffeners with a particular emphasis on welding-induced buckling instabilities. Two-dimensional thermomechanical welding process simulations are performed to determine the residual stress and angular distortion. This critical buckling stress along with the buckling mode and bowing distortion are computed in 3-D eigenvalue and linear stress analyses. The effects of the stiffener geometry, weld sequence, weld heat input and mechanical fixturing on the occurrence of buckling and the distortion pattern are investigated.